by singerchick~ My oldest son, for some unknown reason, is deathly afraid to have his toenails or fingernails cut. Since he's been old enough to scream about it he's hated it which means he's been afraid since he was a tiny baby. The only reason I can come up with is when he was around three months maybe I cut his fingernails and they bled. Well, I freaked out because I had just injured my brand new tiny baby who I was supposed to be protecting. I think he kind of picked up on that (he's a smart kid :-)) and hasn't wanted a pair of clippers in his sight ever since.
Well, call me a bad mom but I haven't cut either his toes or his fingernails in a very long time. It was just easier to let them be and they do break on their own so it's not like they're all long and curly. You'll understand why I avoided the clippers in just a minute.
The other night, I was giving the boys a bath. I noticed that the big one had dirty toenails, as usual. Well, I began to scrub. This usually does the trick and only involves a few tears instead of piercing screams. But, this particular evening the scrubbing wasn't working and I decided it was time. I kept this decision to myself until we got out of the tub. Then I began to talk to him about it calmly even saying that I would use the "baby" clippers. Well, as soon as he heard the word clippers the screaming began.
I felt bad for the little guy, but it had to be done. I didn't want people to look at his toes and think that he was neglected. So, of course I had to get daddy to help me. He had to pretty much man handle him, lay him on the bed and hold him down while he was kicking, screaming and doing anything he could to get loose. He eventually gave up the kicking and the squirming, but the screaming never stopped.
So I'm sitting there trying to cut his toenails, which were growing downwards by the way making it that much harder to cut. Oldest chicklet is screaming at the top of his lungs and I'm saying to hubby, "don't hurt him, please don't hurt him, just hold him." It wasn't pretty! If we had close neighbors, they would have called child services. Is was that bad!
Finally we finished and I began to rock my traumatized kid trying to console him. When he sobered up and became himself again he looks up at me and says, "it really wasn't that bad, mama."
Are you kidding me? Seriously?!!
I cant even imagine.
Hey, but on the brightside, your neighbors wont be calling child services, unless you call on them....
Posted by: sassychick | June 25, 2008 at 09:16 AM
Oh my! Well maybe next time it won't be as bad...
Posted by: Jessica W. | June 25, 2008 at 09:31 AM
This made me laugh out loud!!!! This totally cracks me up. Maybe next time won't be so bad now that he knows its "not so bad"!
Posted by: plannerchick | June 25, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Too funny!
Posted by: Lisa Nall | June 25, 2008 at 09:55 AM
That is too funny, atleast you have hope for next time.
Posted by: babychick | June 25, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Ummm . . . I wouldn't hold my breath. They seem to have short memories when it comes to overreacting! :-P
Posted by: photochick | June 25, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Why is that actually? A promise to buy a toy, now that they will remember 3 years from now, but the fact that something they have an irrational fear about, no chance.
Posted by: photochick | June 25, 2008 at 03:47 PM
All In can say is he is just a chip off the old block.
Posted by: daddy and mama | June 26, 2008 at 02:36 PM